Pilot light cap



Aug. 2, 1966 J. c. FARR PILOT LIGHT CAP Filed Nov. 1, 1965 James C. Parr IN VENTOR.

Aumlqs United States Patent 3,263,733 PILOT LIGHT CAP James C. Parr, P. O. Box 10141, Prichard, Ala. Filed Nov. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 320,810 3 Claims. (Cl. 158115) The instant invention relates to a novel means particularly adapted for capping a pilot light or burner during extended periods of non-use so as to maintain the pilot light in proper condition for immediate re-igniting.

In the majority of cases, the failure of a floor furnace to operate can be traced directly to a clogged pilot light, this clogging resulting from the accumulation of foreign matter during extended periods when the furnace is completely shut off and the pilot light extinguished. Accordingly, it is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a means for capping the pilot light during these extended periods of non-use so as to prevent any accumulation of foreign matter.

Another significant object of the instant invention is to provide a device which can be easily handled, installed and removed with little or no effort.

In conjunction with the above object, it is also an object of the instant invention to incorporate illuminating means into the device so as to facilitate the location of the pilot light in the normally darkened interior of the furnace.

In addition, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a pilot light cap which can remain in position throughout those periods when the pilot light is extinguished.

Also, it is an object of the instant invention to provide the capping device with an elongated handle so as to allow for a positioning of the device Without necessitating a removal of, for example, the floor furnace grille.

Furthermore, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a pilot light capping device which is simple in construction, capable of economical manufacture and of an extremely durable nature.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, with portions broken away, illustrating the manner in which the pilot light is to be capped by the device of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the device comprising the instant invention;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 33 in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 4-4 in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the flexible nature of the device so as to accommodate an oblong pilot light.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, refer ence numeral is used to generally designate the device comprising the instant invention, this device being particularly adapted for the capping of the pilot light or pilot burner 12 of a furnace, specifically a floor furnace 14.

The device 10 consists basically of a cap or pilot light encompassing portion 16, an elongated handle 18 and an illuminating means 20. The cap 16 is in the form of an elongated hollow cylinder having an internal diameter of a size so as to snugly receive the pilot light 12 in a manner contemplated so as to exclude foreign matter from the lighting hole therein. It will of course be appreciated that the cap 16 is also of a length so as to receive the pilot light 12 without the upper end of the pilot light 12 contacting the bulb 22 which forms the illuminating means 20 in conjunction with the socket 24 and power cord or conductor 26.

The handle 18, also tubular in form, has a cross-sectional area substantially less than the cross-sectional area of the cap 16 and extends coaxially from the following end' of the cap 16 so as to form, in addition to a handle, a conduit for the conductor 26 which is provided witha conventional male plug 28 on the outer end thereof for engagement with a suitable electrical Wall outlet thus resulting in a lighting of the bulb 22.

It will be appreciated from FIGURE 1 that the handle 18 is of a length so as to enable the engagement of the cap 16 over the pilot light 12 directly through any suitable opening 30 within the grille 32 of the floor furnace 14 with the upper or following end of the handle being orientated, when the cap 16 is in position, in the same plane as or very slightly below the grille 32 while still being easily reached for effecting the withdrawal of the cap 16. The opening 30 will of course have to be of a size sufficient so as to allow for the passage of the cap 16 therethrough with the reduced cross-sectional area of the handle 18 allowing for the introduction of the conductor 26 and plug 28 through the opening 30 after the cap 16 has been positioned thus storing the entire device below the grille 32 and in position on the pilot light 12 until such time as one desires to light the pilot light 12. In those situations where a combustion chamber is provided within the furnace, the pilot light cap 16 will of course also be inserted through the lighting hole therein for engagement with the pilot light 12.

Inasmuch as an occasional replacement of the bulb 22 will be required, and in view of the relative length of the cap 16, it is contemplated that the device he formed with selectively interlocked elements capable of being joined in a manner which eliminates any possibility of the elements separating during use. One particular manner of effecting this has been illustrated in FIGURE 3 wherein the lower or leading end of the handle 18 is. provided with a bulged or bulbous externally threaded portion 34 which frictionally receives the light bulb socket 24 therein with the internally threaded following or upper end portion of the cap 16 being engaged with the external threads on the portion 34. This threading of the cap 16 on the bulbous portion 34 tends to further increase the frictional gripping of the socket 24 thus eliminating any possibility of the socket 24 slipping therefrom. Thus, when it becomes necessary to change the bulb 22, one need merely remove the cap 16. It will of course be appreciated that various other means can be utilized for interlocking the cap 16 and handle 18.

With reference to FIGURE 5, it should be pointed out that the cap 16, while cylindrical in shape, can be formed of a flexible material, such as Delrin plastic, so as to enable an engagement over a pilot light 36 of other than cylindrical form, for example a light which is oblong in crosssection.

In using the above described device, the pilot light is first extinguished and allowed to cool after which the bulb 22 is lit and the cap inserted through the opening 30 and guided into position upon the pilot light with the handle 18, once the cap 16 is in position, having its upper end flush with or slightly below the grille 32, the conductor 26 is disconnected and also inserted through the opening 32 so as to be easily accessible although concealed from view until such time as a relighting of the furnace becomes desirable.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a pilot light for a burner, a device for temporarily capping the pilot light during periods of non-use, said device comprising an elongated hollow cap, said cap including an open leading end receiving the pilot light therethrough when the pilot light is capped, the interior of said cap generally conforming to and snugly receiving the pilot light, means for selectively illuminating the leading end of. said cap and the area forward thereof so as to assist in the positioning of the device, and handle means on said cap for use in the positioning and removal of the cap.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the illuminating means consists of a light bulb mounted within the following end of the cap, and means associated with the light bulb for effecting a selective illumination thereof.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said handle means is References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,695,468 12/1928 Reeves 240--102 1,746,893 2/1930 Homan 240102 X 2,014,849 9/1935 Kahn 126-1l6 2,341,375 2/1944 Hambleton 2406.46 2,692,490 10/1954 Florman 677.1 3,181,591 5/1965 Lund l581()4 FREDERICK L. MATTESON, .TR., Primary Examiner.

H. B. RAMEY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A PILOT LIGHT FOR A BURNER, A DEVICE FOR TEMPORARILY CAPPING THE PILOT LIGHT DURING PERIODS OF NON-USE, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED HOLLOW CAP, SAID CAP INCLUDING AN OPEN LEADING END RECEIVING THE PILOT LIGHT THERETHROUGH WHEN THE PILOT LIGHT IS CAPPED, THE INTERIOR OF SAID CAP GENERALLY CONFORMING TO AND SNUGLY RECEIVING THE PILOT LIGHT, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ILLUMINATING THE LEADING END OF SAID CAP AND THE AREA FORWARD THEREOF SO AS TO ASSIST IN THE POSITIONING OF THE DEVICE, AND HANDLE MEANS ON SAID CAP FOR USE IN THE POSITIONING AND REMOVAL OF THE CAP. 